Power operated vacuum unloader



`Sept. 7, 1965 5, E. STORY ETAL 3,205,017

POWER OPERATED VACUUM UNLOADER Filed May l5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 7, 1965 s. E. sToRY ETAL POWER OPERATED VACUUM UNLOADER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l5, 1963 ATTORNEY-S United States Patent O 3,205,017 PWER OPERATED VACUUM UNLGADER Sam E. IStory, RO. Box 47, and Wiliiarn R. Davis, Ir., 569 E. Cypress, both of Charleston, Wo. Filed May 15, 1963, Ser. No. 280,613 8 Claims. (Cl. 3102-34) This invention relates to a novel vacuum unloading device and more particularly to a power operated suction tube for removing cotton from trucks at a cotton gin.

After picking, cotton is customarily transported by the farmer in trucks to a cotton gin where it is unloaded, weighed, graded, and further processed for shipping. The trucks iilled with cotton usually pull up beneath a vertical suction pipe at the cotton gin and the cotton is sucked up through this pipe by a suitable vacuum system and into the storage bin of the gin. The pipe is swivelly supported for universal movement at a suitable height above the rear end of the truck and is usually provided with a suitable extension which may be moved downwardly for better access to the cotton lling the truck. When a truckload of cotton arrives at the cotton gin, it is customary for at least one man and usually two or three employees of the cotton gin to climb into the truck and onto the cotton so as to move the suction pipe about the truck bed and to sweep the cotton towards the intake end of the suction pipe to insure complete removal of all cotton in the truck.

Most of the cotton arrives at a cotton gin at about the same time of year. For example, in some localities, most of the cotton is taken to the gin in August when the cotton has fully ripened and the weather is favorable for picking. As a result, during the busy seasons of the year, the unloading facilities of a cotton gin are sorely taxed, as is evidenced by the often seen long line of cotton trucks waiting to be unloaded at the gin during the picking season. The amount of cotton which must be unloaded usually reaches its peak late in the day when the cotton gin employees are already fatigued from many hours of work and because of this are usually not operating at their maximum speed or efficiency.

The present invention is directed to a power-operated suction pipe for unloading cotton at a cotton gin which helps to alleviate the problem of unloading large amounts of cotton in a short time. The device of the present invention is of relatively simple and reliable construction and yet makes possible a much more rapid unloading of the cotton. It may be remotely controlled by a single operator positioned at a suitable location in the gin above the truck where he is able to see into the open top of the truck. In addition to the economies afforded by more rapid unloading by a single operator, the tiresome and unpleasant task of moving about in the cotton filled trucks is eliminated. This substantially reduces the possibility of accidental injury to employees and the more pleasant nature of the work tends to reduce employee turnover.

Another important feature of this invention involves the fact that it eliminates the necessity for anyone climbing into the truck and stepping on the cotton. A longstanding problem with cotton removal has been the unavoidable trampling of the cotton in the truck when the cotton gin employees are removing the cotton with the suction pipe. The cotton ginner customarily attempts to get farmers to avoid packing or trampling the cotton since the trampled cotton is of lower grade and may sell for as much as less than untrampled cotton. Furthermore, foreign matter, such as grease and dirt from shoes and clothing tend to soil the cotton as it is being removed. With the remote controlled power op- 3,205,917 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 rice erated device of the present invention, this trampling and soiling of the cotton with the resulting reduction in its value is no longer necessary.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a novel vacuum unloader.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power-operated vacuum unloader for cotton gins.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remotely controlled suction pipe removal system for removing cotton from transport vehicles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simplified carriage and support for a movable suction pipe used to unload cotton at a cotton gin.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more apparent upon reference to the following specitcation, claims and appended drawings where- FIGURE 1 is an elevational View with parts in section showing the novel vacuum unloader of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the unloader of FIG- URE l.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a iiow diagram of the hydraulic control system for the unloader of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, the unloader generally indicated at 10 comprises a suction pipe 12 mounted for universal movement about its upper end on a conventional swivel support 14 suitably attached to a portion of a cotton gin indicated in FIGURE l at 16. Suction pipe 12 is illustrated as positioned over the cargo area of an open top truck as indicated at 18. Cotton is sucked upwardly from the truck through the pipe 12 and swivel joint v 14 and is fed into the cotton gin by a suitable vacuum system in a Well-known manner.

The suction pipe 12 is indicated as having a reciprocatable extension movable in a vertical direction from the solid line to the dashed line position in FIGURE 1 and for this purpose consists of inner and outer telescoping tubes 20 and 22. A metal band 24 tightly surrounds the upper end of inner telescoping tube 20 and is fastened as at 26 to one end of a hydraulic cylinder 28. An identical hydraulic cylinder 30 is similarly mounted on the other side of a suction tube as best seen in FIG- URE 2. Each of the cylinders is provided with a double acting piston connected -to a piston rod 32, in turn connected as at 34 to a band 36 xedly mounted on the outer telescoping tube 22 adjacent its lower vacuum inlet end 38. The cylinders are both provided with a pair of hydraulic fluid ports such as 40 and 42.

Each of the cylinders 2S and 30 is tightly secured to a vertically elongated at plate 44 and 46 by Ubolts 48. These plates are in turn secured to the respective arms Sti and 52 of a yoke 54 by means of bolts 56 and 58. Yoke 54 is connected by a universal ball joint to the end of a drive link 62 connected at its other end through a ball joint 64 to a rectangular carriage 66.

Carriage 66 is mounted on a rectangular track generally indicated at 68 supported at its four corners from the gin 16 by vertical channels 70. Track 68 comprises a pair of end braces 72 and 74 and an intermediate cross brace 76. The cross brace is connected to a pair of horizontal side channels 78 and 80 in which are received wheels or rollers 82 mounted on the four corners of the carriage 66. The carriage is therefore mounted for reciprocating movement on the rollers along a portion of the track, as indicated by the double ended arrow 84 in FIGURE 2.

Carriage 66 is connected at 86 to the end of a piston rod 88 having its other end connected to a double acting piston slidably received in hydraulic cylinder 90. Cylindricai 90 is provided with hydraulic fluid lines 92 and 94 for driving rod 88 in either direction and the cylinder 90 is supported at one end by a bracket 96 from end brace '7 2 and at its other end by a bracket 98 from cross brace '76.

Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the underside of the carriage 66 is a support frame 100 including laterally extending arms 102 and 104 as best seen in FIG. URE 2. The outermost ends of these arms are connected together and carry a universal ball joint 106 connected to oneend of a hydraulic cylinder 108. A double acting piston within the cylinder drives a piston rod 110 in the direction of the double ended arrow 112 in FIGURE 2 which piston rod is coupled by a ball joint 114 to an intermediate point along the length of drive link 62.

FIGURE 4 is a diagram of the hydraulic control system for the vacuum unloader of FIGURES 1 through 3 and shows the four hydraulic cylinders 28, 30, 90 and 108. A suitable pump 116 driven by motor 118 supplies hydraulic or pneumatic fluid, such as oil, water, air, or the like to the double acting piston cylinders through three identical valves 118, 120 and 122. Output from the pump is by Way of line 124 and return to the pump is by way of line 126 from the sump 12S. Each of the cylinders exhaust to the sump by way of an exhaust line 130.

Since each of the valves 118, `120 and 122 is identical, only valve 118 will be described in detail. The valve is connected across the high and low pressure lines 124 and 130 respectively of the pump by way of input line 132 and exhaust line 134. The valve comprises a chamber 136 in which moves a three-part bobbin 138 driven from a suitable actuator by way of rod 140. In the intermediate or oi position of the valve illustrated in FIG- URE 4 the hydraulic fluid by-passes cylinders 28 and 30 and passes through the central part of the bobbin directly from valve input line 132 to valve exhaust line 134-. When the bobbin is moved to its right-most position in chamber 136, input line 132 is coupled through the lefthand part of the bobbin to output line 142 and hence to the upper ends of each of the double acting cylinders 28 and 30. Exhaust line 132 is at the same time coupled to the lower ends of these two cylinders as illustrated in FIGURE 4 by output line 144. When the bobbin 138 is moved to its left-most position in FIGURE 4, the coupling is reversed so that the high pressure side 132 is now coupled to line 144 and the low pressure or exhaust line 134 is coupled to line 142 to cause the piston in the cylinders to move in the opposite direction, i.e., upwardly in FIGURE `4.

In operation of the device, each of the valves 118, 120 and 122 is individually and separately controlled. These valves may be manually actuated or may be provided with suitable solenoids for electrical actuation in a wellknown manner. In either event actuation of valve 118 acts to control the movement of outer telescoping tube 22 of the suction pipe to cause the tube to move in a vertical direction as desired between the solid line position and the dashed line position illustrated in FIGURE l. Independent actuation of valve 120 causes cylinder 90 through its piston rod 88 to move the carriage 66 along track 68 between the solid line position and the extreme dotted line positions illustrated in FIGURE 2. Since the support arms 102 and 104 are rigidly connected to the carriage they, along with cylinder 108, move with the carriage. The actuation of valve 122 causes cylinder 108 through its piston rod 110 to rotate drive link 62 about its ball joint 64. By suitable manipulation of three valves 118, 120 and 122, it is possible to make the yoke and hence the vacuum tube 12 move into any desired position within the truck 18 so as to insure a sucking up and complete removal of all cotton from the cargo area of the truck. Various positions for the yoke are illustrated in dashed lines in FIGURE 2.

It is apparent from the above that the present invention provides a simple and yet reliable power drive for the suction pipe of a cotton gin so that cotton may be rapidly and completely removed from the cargo area of a truck without necessitating the physical presence of one or more workers in the truck. The device substantially reduces the amount of labor required at the cotton gin, speeds unloading of the cotton and completely eliminates undesirable soiling and trampling of the cotton occasioned in prior arrangement where several workers were required to manipulate the suction tube in the back of the truck and to sweep the cotton towards the inlet or mouth of the suction tube.

While the device of the present invention has been described in conjunction with the removal of cotton from trucks, it is apparent that it is readily adapted for use in any applications where a power operated vacuum system may be desired and may be used, for example, in conjunction with the vacuum removal of other materials both powdered and granular such as coal, grain, dry powdered cement and the like.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range o equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A vacuum unloader comprising a pair of hollow vertically telescoping tubes forming a suction pipe, the upper end of one of said tubes being mounted on a swivel support for universal movement on said support, rst double acting hydraulic cylinder means connected to said tubes for extending and retracting the other of said tubes with respect to said one tube, a rigidly mounted guide track, a carriage reciprocatable along said guide track, a drive link coupling said carriage to said suction pipe, second double acting hydraulic cylinder means for moving said carriage along said track, laterally extending support means on said carriage, and third double acting hydraulic cylinder means coupled between said support means and said drive link.

2. A vacuum unloader according to claim 1 including separate valve means for controlling each of said hydraulic cylinder means.

3. A vacuum unloader according to claim 2 wherein said rst hydraulic cylinder means comprises a pair of cylinders on each side of said pipe, a yoke having a pair of spaced arms, means connecting the lbase of said yoke to said drive link, and means connecting said arms to opposite sid-es of said pipe.

4. A vacuum unloader according to claim 3 including a plate connected to each of said pair of cylinders, said arms or" said yoke being connected to said plates.

5. A vacuum unloading system comprising a cotton gin including a swivel support, upper and lower hollow telescoping tubes forming a suction pipe, the end of said upper pipe being mounted for universal movement in said cotton gin support, a guide track rigidly mounted on said cotton gin, a carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement along said track, a horizontal support arm mounted on said carriage extending outwardly therefrom in a direction transverse to the movement of said carriage along said track, means coupling said carriage to said pipe, rst drive means acting between said tubes to extend and retract said lower tube, second drive means acting on said carriage to pivot said pipe in a rst direction about said swivel support, and third drive means acting; on said lateral support arm to pivot said pipe in a second. direction about said swivel support.

5 6 6. A system according to claim 5 including separate References (listed by the Examiner control means for each of said drive means. UNITED STATES PATENTS 7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said drive means each comprise double acting hydraulic cylinders 1179 31469 2/31 Df'ake 302-34 and Said =Control means each comprise valves having a 5 2,643160 /S Zeig 3oz-34 forward, reverse and off position. 2,728,469 12/5J Sonntag 302-34 8. A system according to claim 7 including a pump and a hydraulic sump, said cylinders being connected SAMUEL F COLEMAN Pnmay Exammer' through said valves to the output of said pump, said ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Examiner. valves being positioned at a location remote from said 10 suction pipe. 

1. A VACUUM UNLOADER COMPRISING A PAIR OF HOLLOW VERTICALLY TELESCOPING TUBES FORMING A SUCTION PIPE, THE UPPER END OF ONE OF SAID TUBES BEING MOUNTED ON A SWIVEL SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT ON SAID SUPPORT FIRST DOUBLE ACTING HYDRAULIC CYLINDER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TUBES FOR EXTENDING AND RETRACTING THE OTHER OF SAID TUBES WITH RESPECT TO SAID ONE TUBE, A RIGIDLY MOUNTED GUIDE TRACK, A CARRIAGE RECIPROCATABLE ALONG SAID GUIDE TRACK, A DRIVE LINK COUPLING SAID CARRIAGE TO SAID SUCTION PIPE, SECOND DOUBLE ACTING HYDRAULIC CYLINDER MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGE ALONG SAID TRACK, LATERALLY EXTENDING SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE, AND THIRD DOUBLE ACTING HYDRAULIC CYLINDER MEANS COUPLED BETWEEN SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID DRIVE LINK. 